🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <816457121snz@projects.demon.co.uk>
           plp@projects.demon.co.uk "Phil Pearce" writes:

> I am using a 386 which is beginning to groan a little, and want to upgrade.
> I have seen that I can get a motherboard and a Pentium 75 Mhz chip, with
> the option of upgrading the chip later, within my budget.  So far so good,
> but I notice that all the ones I see advertised appear to be Triton;  I 
> seem to remember reading newsgroup messages saying that people had trouble 
> with Triton.  What happened to AMI?
> 
> I already have a tape drive and 2 hard drives, which I want to transfer
> across.  I also want to add a CDROM.  I would like if possible to use my
> existing 16 MB of 30 pin RAM.
> 
> So, my questions are:
> 
> 1.      Are Triton boards OK?
Yes, using a TMC Triton board at the moment.

> 2.      Can I split the power supply yet again to add a CDROM? (I have 
>         already split it once to power my 2nd hard drive and my tape drive).
If as stated later you are changing to a tower case, there should enough
power connecters.  If not you can keep on splitting, but it can get messy
inside your case.  My mate has several HDD fitted in a server case, and
in the end made up a custom cable with several power connectors.  Parts
cost about 5 quid from maplins.

> 3.      If I add a CDROM, does it have to be connected to my existing I/O 
>         card or do I change it or add a second one?
The triton boards come with 2 EIDE connectors.  You could connect the HDDs
to one channel and an EIDE CD-ROM to the other channel.  I hear that you
can pick up a 6x EIDE drive for 165 quid.

> 4.      I would like a second parallel port anyway (I have 2 printers).  Can 
>         I just add a second I/O card?
Yes, get a cheap multi I/O, disable all the ports except printer and set it
up as LPT2. (Watch your IRQs)

> 3.      I have seen Watford Electronics advertising a SIMM converter which
>         claims to convert 4 x 30 pin SIMMs to 1 x 72 pin SIMMs.  Has anyone
>         any knowledge of and/or advice about these?
(Losing the numbering ?) yes they do work, but in the long run, you are
better of selling your 30-pin simms and buying 72-pin.  Note you have to
add Simms in pairs.  There is a VIA pentium chipset coming soon that is
faster than the Triton boards and supports adding single Simms. 

> 4.      I will have to buy a new tower case; will I have to worry about heat
>         extraction and/or sinks, or will a new case with 230W PSU cope as is?
If you have a fan on the CPU & power supply you should be OK.  Most tower
cases also have the option of a second fan if you feel the need (esp. if
you are using hot HDDs).

> 5.      Any recommended reliable suppliers who won't rip me off?
> 
Try Simply Computers, though I have seen their cases in person.

> I would be grateful for any advice.  TIA.
> -- 
> Philip Pearce  plp@projects.demon.co.uk
> PGP Public Key available
> 

--
Rajesh Varia     raj@c4rv.demon.co.uk